New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1887-01-19
Explorations In Greenland.

It was the 30th Of May before we
sighted the coast, which appeared at
first as a long low line of sparkling
points. Masses Of heavy clouds con-
cealed the SUBMITS, but as we ap-
preached, the panorama was fradua1ly
unfolded, the clouds lifted revealing an
endless array of peaks, counterparts in
form of many of the most famous noun
tains in the Alps, loaded with snow and
glaciers. At this time we were little
south of Holsteinberg, in latitude sc
degrees, and next morning, when some
of the coast changed, the mountains
dwindled down to low hills, and they
retained that character for seventy
miles, exhibiting the unmistakable char
acteristics of ice eroded surfaces.
Rounded bosses were seen everywhere;
the tops of the hills were clean gone,
and convex curves took the place of
craggy forms which were seen to the
south.
Six weeks elapsed since leaving CO.
penhagen before we arrived at Egedes-
minde, O settlement on the south of Dis
ko Bay, into which we were obliged to
put until Jacobshavn harbor' should be
clear of ice-a dismal place at that time
for every soul, Greenlanders, Danes and
all, had a cough. Though it was now
getting well into June, almost the whole
island on which the settlement was
placed was covered with snow, and
belt of sea fretted ice was fixed all along
the shore just above high water mark.
Here became familiarized with Green
land currency and learned values Of
the coins in circulation, which weret'
mostly skillings and half skillings, equal
respectively to about English farthings
and half farthings Silver was rarely
seen and gold never, the higher values
being represented by bank notes of yari-
GUS amounts, which were often in an
indescribable state of grease and dilapi-
dalton.
Thus far we had not had any prospect
over the island ice, such glimpses as had
been obtained. having been in vistas clos.
ing the ends Of valleys, OF through oc.
casional openings between couple OF
peaks; and to gain better general idea
of its nature, before proceeding, I as
cended an isolated hill on the west mar
gin which commanded very extensive
view The morning was still and the
sky cloudless; and as gradually rose
above the level of the island ice saw
that there were the usual banks of old !,
snow from last Winter extending all
round the margin where it abutted upon
the exterior land, and then came round
ed, dome-like slopes of hard ice, such
as are common at the termination OF
most glaciers, containing numerous
crevasses. This hard ice extended only
few hundred yards eastward, and then
become snow covered. Beyond there
was scarcely sign of crevass, and
mantel of pure, unsullied snow
stretched east, north and south, as far
as the eve could see, covering every
thing completely. How far our night
extended none could say, for no one,
however experienced with snow and ice,
can Judge distance with accuracy on
snow field which has no marks upon it. !
To the north and south the mountains i
around the margin of the island ices
showed that the prospect was immense,
but they gave no clue as to the distance
seen to the east.
The nature of this view was most
agreeable surprise, for I had never con-
jectured that the conditions would be
SO easy, or that it would be possible to
| meet with such an absolutely complete
placement $50 to speak of all the land
| features Of continent, unlike anything
known elsewhere. There were undula-
tions, but no declivities, and there were
slopes, but not a single peak, nor, ex.
cepting at the very margin (where there
were small boulders from the contingent
rocks was there even stray rock upon
| the surface. Leisure Hours.
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